Device for disengaging scale-beam latches



(No Model.)

B. O. DEMING.

DEVIGE FOB DISENGAGING SCALE BEAM LATOHES. No. 365,170. Patented June 21, 1887.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND ORR DEMING, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR DISENGAGING SCALE-BEAM LATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,170, dated June 21, 1887.

' Application filed January 24, 1887. Serial No. 125,362. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND ORR DEMING,

of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Scale Attachments; and I hereby declareweighing-scales; and it consists of a device by means of which the stop or latch holding the scale-beam from vibration may be disengaged without the use of hands.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 represents weighing-scales having my attachment. Fig. 2 is a modification.

In platform weighing-scales the scale-beam is prevented from vibration or oscillation by a swinging stop or latch journaled above its outer end, and this is usually provided with a short lever upon one side, by which the operator disengages it to allow the beam to move after the load has been placed upon the scale. This, however, is troublesome in many cases where the operator may have book and pencil in hand for the purpose oftallying the weights, and my invention is designed to obviate this difiiculty.

A is the vertical post, and B the horizontal arm, of an ordinary platfornrscalc. C is the latch or stop which prevents the oscillation of the scale-beam D. Upon the outer end of the shaft of'this stop is fixed a lever, E, the arms of which project in opposite directions from the central shaft, as shown. From the lower arm a cord, F, passes over a pulley, G, which is fixed at the inner end of the horizontal arm B, or upon the side of the vertical post, and from this pulley the cord passes downward along the back of the post, and is connected with'a slide, H, near the bottom. This slide has a projection, upon which the foot may be placed to push it down, and this operates through the cord and turns the lever, and with it the stop, thus freeing the scale-beam and allowing it to be used for weighing. From the opposite end of the lever E a spring, I, extends to the side of the horizontal arm B, to which it is attached, and this spring serves to return the stop to its position when the cord is released by raising the foot.

A coil-spring might be made to surround the stop-shaft, or it might be returned in any suitable way, and in place of the slide H, to which the cord is attached, a footlever might be employed; but these are essentially me chanical changes which will suggest themselves to any one, and may be madeto suit such changes as are necessary to scales in various positions. The connection between the .foot-piece and the latch or stop may also be made by means of rigid rods in place of a cord, and quadrants or bell'cranlc levers may be used to change direction at the intervening angles, as seen in Fig. 2, instead of pulleys.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and dcsi re to seeu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the scale-beam, a stop by which it is prevented from oscillating, a lever, a cord, and a foot-pieee whereby the stop may be withdrawn to release the beam,

substantially as herein described.

2. The stop by which the scale-beam is prevented from oscillating, in combination with a lever, a cord, and a foot-piece by which it is withdrawn, and a return-spring, substantially as herein described.

,3. Astop by which ascalebeam is prevented fromoscillating, in combination with a mov' able foot-piece and iiitermediate rods or cord, and a pulley or a bell-crank lever by which a change of direction is effected, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDMUND ORR DEMING. Witnesses:

J. D. H. CAMPBELL, J. H. GRINDLEY. 

